Around here in Southern Cali, you hear it floating around a lot. People generally think it is just kidding around, and while it is, it also has a secret meaning that they want to get with the girl in some way. I only notice a guy says it when later on he says "she's hot" and other things, but it really depends on tone and how high pitched he makes his voice sound lol. I never say things like that, but then again I am strict with myself when it comes to girls and am not the guy to like many girls in that way. So maybe I have used it without really noticing lol.

Of course you might get tons of denial out of people saying they have never used those types of words as pick-up lines. "How ya doin' baby?" and then usually follows by asking the girl about something she just did or is doing, to look out for ___ (whoever he sees next to her where he might be jealous), or somewhere along the lines of asking her if she is going to some party. High-pitched voice and all... Haha.

hmm i think it would be alright if youre in a relationship but if a guy calls other girls like that even if they arent in one then its very creepy O.o
nonetheless, id say that other name callings in a relationship is very sweet indeed, baby is just a bit common and less special name calling in a relationship, in my opinion.. >.<

I get called baby, honey, sweetheart, precious, darling etc. all day long by friends, coworkers, and strangers of both sexes everyday. It's just the opposite of patronizing or offensive the way most people use those terms where I live. Actually, Babes is my supervisor's favorite pet name for me lately. I seem to remind him of his daughter a bit and he uses pet names for everyone. I think it helps that most people think I'm a bit younger than I really am. I don't usually find it weird, or flirty unless the person saying it is a guy who's younger than me. That's when pet names like that become a little suspect to me.

Truthfully, I hate it when guys call me baby. The second I hear it, it instantly irks me and I can tell that I've grown colder to the person who said it. It would be fine if the guy was a close friend of mine who I joke around with or my boyfriend, but having random strangers or even acquaintances just chat me up with the words "Hey baby" is not how I like a conversation to be initiated. "Hey babe" is not much better either but it's more acceptable. I like "cupcake, sweetie, honey, darling, dear"...any nickname or term other than baby.

If strangers call me those names, like when I'm walking home, I get scared and tend not to hear. (Insert shojo manga fantasies that some randomness good looking guy would tell those creepy men off hahaha)

If friends would call me that I guess it wouldn't change the way I would act toward them.

If a suitor or admirer would call me those names, I wouldn't really interpret it as flirting since I'm too dense anyway.

I prefer though to be called by name if ever a man would choose to love me.

The only time I'm okay with being called sweetie or honey is from my mom, other than that I can't stand anyone trying to call babe, baby, honey, or any other nickname like that. Both my boyfriend and I feel the same, so it's basically a non-issue for us. If anyone tries to call me by a nickname, I immediately become suspicious of them and question their ulterior motives. I'll also ask them to not call me that and I definitely notice that I'll start acting cold to them. It also just feels so unnatural to call someone by such a name and would be very awkward if either me or my boyfriend tried it.